| Top 15 Greatest Guitarists of All Time |
April 21, 2006 |
In mid-2003, Rolling Stone magazine created a list of 100 of what they believed to be the greatest guitarists of all time. These guitarists consist mainly of the genres of rock, metal, and blues. In case you missed that article, here's an excerpt of the top 100 greatest guitarists:
1. Jimi Hendrix
2. Duane Allman of The Allman Brothers Band
3. B.B. King
4. Eric Clapton
5. Robert Johnson
6. Chuck Berry
7. Stevie Ray Vaughan
8. Ry Cooder
9. Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin
10. Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones
11. Kirk Hammet of Metallica
12. Kurt Cobain of Nirvana
13. Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead
14. Jeff Beck
15. Carlos Santana
What are your thoughts on this list? Are there any changes you'd make to the top 15 list? We'd love to know! |
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Comments
| - August 19, 2008 |
| helical electrically fascism:whose Laredo?dates airers?affirmative |
| Dedeempacle - July 22, 2008 |
Good day
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| Gagcucoundson - July 21, 2008 |
Hi all
Your site www.tonesettings.com very helped me in my work
Thank you |
| von - January 16, 2007 |
| yngwie j. malmsteen,steve vai,joe satriani,john petrucci,steve morse...they should be on top 5!!!! |
| Milestone - January 16, 2007 |
| Stevie Ray Vaughan is my #1. Hendrix is my #2. Both played with raw emotion. everytime I listen to these guys I here something new, that I hadn't heard before. |
| froi sta.rosa - January 15, 2007 |
| cobain?? cmon,,hammet?? nobody is greater than the master,,vai? out of place,,ol of his solos sux,,eric johnson sould be in d list |
| froi sta.rosa - January 15, 2007 |
| jimi is a greatst innovator,,but not as a greatest guitar player,,, greatest plyer must hve a good catchy soundz,,innovates other gitar plyer,,and use a variety of style in music,,for me joe satriani is the best!!! slash sux |
| Jason - January 12, 2007 |
To empanda:
Duane Allman was HANDS DOWN the greatest slide guitar player of all time. Hammett, Cobain, Keith Richards don't belong on the list. Cobain was a great songwriter, but not a great guitar player. Keith wrote some great licks, but Mick Taylor played them much better. Do I really need to explain why Hammett shouldn't be on there? Joe Satriani and Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top should be on there. I would say Townsend or Brian May, but they were just some of the most solid of all time not too much invention with those two. |
| john m. - January 10, 2007 |
| are you serious! were is Slash, eddie van halen, david gilmour, randy rhoads. get kurt out of there, slash is ten times better then him. |
| chris - January 9, 2007 |
| I agree that Hendrix revolutionized the way that people play the guitar but it has been perfected since then. He should be in the top 10 but not number one. I love nirvana but cmon, cobain should be much lower on the list. Has anyone seen the way EDDIE VAN HALEN plays the guitar with clarity and ease? He should be at least in the top 5, along with Chet Atkins. Slash should be on the list as well. |
| empanda - January 4, 2007 |
YOUR ALL WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!
YOUR FORGET ABOUT JAMES BLUNT OR WHAT HIS LIVE SLIDE SOLOS BLOW THE SHIT OUTTA ANYONE |
| Gregg - December 28, 2006 |
| Why not Blackmore&Malmsteen instead of Cobain and Richards. |
| Richi - October 24, 2006 |
| Santana is the best Hendrix was good but not the greatest he was a great show to see you should get rid of Kurt Cobain and Kieth Richards Cobain couldn't play fast songs only ballads and Kieth Richards was a rythme guitarest who played lead for the Rolling Stones |
| Phil Peace - October 17, 2006 |
| a few more that were left off besides prince and joe stariani: johnny lang, slash, john mayer, jj cale, probably many more. Rolling stone did a pretty bad job |
| rr fan - October 10, 2006 |
| what about the king of insane solos randy rhoads have you not herd idont know,mr crowley,crazy train bileve (live) soiside solutions with solo live parinod live |
| Christian (19 yrs old) - October 2, 2006 |
| Music is like politics or religion, you can't change anyones mind. But Vai?? His tone can be duplicated by a 10 year old....it has minimal soul..he thinks too much...Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi felt it, it was an emotion, and you can't beat Stevie's tone. And whoever said that Jimi couldn't play acoustic..you're full of it..listen to 'Hear My Train A' Coming' the acoustic version..he played it on a 12 string and it is amazing. When it comes to emotion and heart, #1 Jimi, #2 Stevie Ray Vaughan... the rest, you can do whatever with. And Jazz fellas do deserve their props, they're amazing. |
| joe - September 30, 2006 |
| where's mike mccreedy, stone gossard,slash, matthias jabs, joe perry,rudolph schenker,brian may, EDDIE VAN HALEN. DID U GUYS FORGET THEM. also cobain sucks. he shouldn't b there at all. |
| Colin - September 27, 2006 |
| I agree with Tim. Being technical is one thing but being tasteful is more important. |
| andrew_flippy - September 25, 2006 |
| dude!!!!!wheres angus young and ace frehley don't they need some recognition? |
| Mark - September 25, 2006 |
| Classical guitar playing is such a different style and it doesn't contain elements of improvisation. On the other hand jazz guitar players should be included in the group. The guys listed sound lame compared to Joe Pass, Kenny Burrell, Pat Martino, Jimmy Bruno and Emily Remler. |
| Tim - September 25, 2006 |
| George Benson is a sell out but that's how he raked in the big bucks. It's because the general population has bad taste when it comes to music. You can listen to any shredder and I do mean any, and it can never compare to a guy like Pat Martino. It has to do with taste and the ability to create color. Listening to guys like Malmsteen or Van Halen and then comparing them to Pass or Martino is kinda like comparing a cold Burger King burger to Prime Filet Mignon. |
| Marshall Guy - September 25, 2006 |
| So many are misinformed. The real pioneer of the electric guitar was Charlie Christian. Hendrix was the pioneer of distortion. While distortion has it's place, I think it's produced a huge amount of bad guitarist who rely on solid state gadgets to achieve a sound. Many of the guitar players I know can't read music and don't know too many chords. I really like Jeff Beck but he isn't half as good as George Benson (when he ain't playing that stupid soft rock crapola) or Wes Montgomery. |
| Marty - September 25, 2006 |
| LOL I agree with Dean. How can you seriously compare Eric Clapton and the likes to Segovia or Joe Pass? I have respect for these dudes, but what they did is simplistic compared to the great jazzmen. You can't really rate anyone in the Top 100 if they required effects to sound good and couldn't get a awesome sound clean and at lower volume. |
| Dean - September 25, 2006 |
| The only way these gentleman can make the Top 100 let alone Top 15 is that jazz guitarist and classical guitarists are excluded from the list. This is a popularity poll based on ignorance, not actual guitar talent. |
| Chris - September 24, 2006 |
| Get Kirk Hammet off the list. He sucks. If you want the technically greatest get Michael Angelo Batio on there. The only thing is that he has no emotion. Vai is technically amazing and is very emotiional in his playing. He has a little more flavor than Satch |
| Colin - September 21, 2006 |
| I guess it depends on what you like. Personally, I`m not a fan of Hendrix. I`d take Page anyday. I`m not really into the screwed up sounds that Hendrix made. But it`s a vote and who really cares. It`s all about personal preference. What about Don Ross and Paul Simon? They`re great to me. So, really these polls are a joke. |
| kulotzki_619 - September 14, 2006 |
| the RS magazine have taken most blues and jazz guitarist at the top of the rankings.. |
| kulotzki_619 - September 14, 2006 |
| I think this website is much better: http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_newguitar.html ,they ranked guitarists according to reader's votes,..steve vai, satriani, paul gilbert, van halen were included on the list but still jimi hendrix is #1 on the list.. |
| Kulotzki_619 - September 14, 2006 |
| hey where's Joe Stariani? He was the teacher of two greats; Steve Vai and kirk hammett..John Petrucci of Dreamtheater must also be included.. |
| Jim - August 30, 2006 |
| You guys are so wrong Hendrix is number one...the man made the electric guitar what it is today. He lead the way and many so so many followed. |
| Brian J Barry - August 29, 2006 |
| Where is Neal Schon? He is a great guitarist. |
| luke - August 27, 2006 |
yeh... frank zappa is a must in top 15!
and just to mention: STEVE VAI!!!
and one question: what the hell... kurt cobain? hmm... why not gary moore, yngwie malmsteen, john mcLaughlin, al diMeola.
hmm... so according to John: get rid of Kurt Cobain, Kirk Hammet and keit richards. |
| Max - August 22, 2006 |
Jimi Hendrix was a pioneer. He didn't play the guitar he played the amp, did you ever see him play the acoustic? He was horrible, he knew how to make sounds on the amp that were never seen before. I think that Jimi is at the top of that list because the complaints that RS would have gotten had he not been there.
Why do they say what guitarist is from what band? Like people don't know who Skydog is. |
| Chris - July 30, 2006 |
| Uhh guys, Hendrix isnt just number one because he was incredible at guitar, his ability to get unbelievable sound that is nearly impossible to duplicate set him apart from the others. |
| Cody - July 15, 2006 |
| but come on you cant beat hendrix jimi was the greatest |
| Chris - June 11, 2006 |
| Steve Vai would blow anybody on that list out of the water. He's so unbelievably technical that his playing is otherworldy. Definitely the best on this list, maybe the world |
| B - May 30, 2006 |
| Well.. you want Jazz? How 'bout Chet Atkins, Dave Brubeck or Larry Carlton... And yeh, those G3 guys (Satch, Vai, Yngwie, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and John Petrucci) should be there to. Hendrix isn't number one, but he shoudl be in top 10 at least. |
| Jake Seaward - May 28, 2006 |
| i find it funny how they didnt mention any jazz guitar greats, there are plenty of jazz guys who could school anybody on that list |
| WILL - May 21, 2006 |
| I think steve marriot and rory gallagher should be right up there |
| daniel2001 (forum mo - May 5, 2006 |
Head on over to the forum, look in the "Off Topic" forum.
Post your own top 15 guitarists in there. |
| daniel2001 - May 2, 2006 |
| Gary Moore was in Thin LIzzy at one point and also did some gigs this year on BB Kings farewell tour. Moore is an excellent blues guitarist, a bit Hendrixy, but still good. |
| Chris - May 1, 2006 |
| Mark Knoplfer is really good melodically, and harmonically, but who is Gary Moore |
| Jay - April 29, 2006 |
| The list above was only what Rolling Stones considered to be the greatest guitarists. |
| Tim - April 29, 2006 |
Define 'greatest'.
Does this mean influencial or technically skillfull.
Hendrix certainly deserves to be at or near the top on both counts but Cobain? Influencial he may have been but he wasn't much more than a strummer. |
| Natural (admin) - April 27, 2006 |
| What do you guys think about creating our own version of the top 15 greatest guitarists? In the next few posts, everybody should post (in order) what they think the list should be. I will compare each post and compile our own list. If you're interested, go for it! |
| Chris - April 27, 2006 |
| Slash should definitely be up there, and i agree that steve vai and zappa should also be on the list. Hendrix is definitely not the best ever, and what about Joe Satriani? |
| nick - April 25, 2006 |
| rolling stone did a good job with the list. you could probably switch a few around, but as big a nirvana fan i am, kurt shouldnt be on the list. dont get me wrong, he was very influential. and where's tom morello? creativity should also be a factor, and |
| daniel2001 - April 24, 2006 |
| Just because someone can play fast doesn't mean that they are the greatest ever. Personally, I'd place BB King higher up than Vai, because I prefer BB's music, Vai is still brilliant. I do agree with whoever said that Hendrix shouldn't be at the top |
| Dan(2529)King - April 24, 2006 |
| Ok seriously this list is wrong Jimi hendrix yer he was insane but not the best guitarist i mean what about steve Vai he should be up there and number one should definitely be Micheal Angelo Batio he will shred any guitarist on this planet he plays bett |
| IEfan - March 1, 2006 |
| Zakk Wylde, Randy Shawver, Gary Hoey, Randy Rhoads, Dimebag Darrell. Anybody listen to metal at all. There are some of the greatest guitarists of all time playing right now. |
| DarthM - February 15, 2006 |
| Kobain in the list of top 15 songwriters i agree but not guitarist. FZ definitely need to be in Top 15. Maybe Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top too. |
| Admin - February 12, 2006 |
| Maybe the Tone Settings community should create our own list of the top 15 greatest guitarists? What do you guys think about that idea? |
| big marty - February 14, 2006 |
| I'm for it,maybe one that also defines the reason we check this site out...TONE!!!! |
| random guy - February 12, 2006 |
| Yeah err wheres satch and vai i mean satch taught great guitarists. What about yngwie malmsteen herman li come on! |
| Ryan - February 11, 2006 |
That's nice, Dr. Fish.. :P
From a rock/blues point of view, I'd say that list is about right. |
| Dr. Fish - February 10, 2006 |
In deed zappa is great...
Back in med school when I was getting my PHD in fish... ology, I always listened to Zappa
...and ate fish |
| Kevin - February 9, 2006 |
| also, Hendrix is #1 on the list.. I do agree that he was the #1 most influencial guitarist of all time, but hardly the "greatest" per se. he knew his theory and could play well, but saying he is the #1 greatest guitarist of all time might be pushing it. |
| John - February 9, 2006 |
Ry Cooder is still the shit. If we are going to get picky about anyone, I would get rid of Kurt Cobain and Kirk Hammet. Cooder owned the slide! Either way, Zappa was still better than Stevie Ray Vaughan...
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| Kevin - February 9, 2006 |
| yeah man, zappa is on there he's just lower down the list. but you're right, he should definitely be on the top 15 |
| Allan Margolin - February 9, 2006 |
Ill say but frank zappa should be therew too maybe stead of ry cooder
frank is insane
he made music psycho yet very intellectual |
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